Teva, a company I once mistakenly associated with quality footwear, is coming out with a pair of sandals called the ‘Illum’ which feature LED flashlights on the straps, supposedly making it easier to traverse the beach at night. Now I’m sure the sandals are well-made, and it’s nice that the LEDs can be removed and attached to a keychain as needed, but seriously? I can honestly say I’ve survived many a walks at night in sandals without the aid of miniature headlights strapped to my feet, not to mention that I can’t think of a more inconvenient place to put a flashlight. “What was that?! Did you see it?! Here, let me balance on one foot and point my sandal into those bushes for a better look!” $60 a pair, available sometime in May.

[ Boing Boing - Flip flops that double as a flashlight ]

I know those little yellow sponges you cram in your ears aren’t the most advanced way to protect your hearing, but these Sonic Defenders make them look like they date back to the age of cavemen. When worn the SureFire EP-3 ear plugs let you hear safe and routine sounds like normal conversation, but potentially harmful sounds above 80dB are safely reduced via the company’s special design that incorporates the patented ‘Hocks Noise Braker’ filter. They also feature a small removable stopper that will block out nearly all sounds when you want some real peace and quiet, and they’re available for a mere $12.95 directly from SureFire.

[ SureFire EP-3 Sonic Defenders ] VIA [ The Awesomer ]

I don’t know if it’s my gung-ho personality, always driving forward at top speed, but I’m pretty sure I’m involved in far more than my fair share of corner collisions with random strangers. So while the idea of seeing this Corner’s Communication device installed on every blind corner in the country some day is a little far-fetched, I still like it. It’s nothing more than a motion sensitive alarm that lights up and emits a warning sound when someone is about to round a corner, giving the person on the other side a heads-up so they can avoid an embarrassing collision.

The idea did win a Red Dot Design Concept Award, so there might be some interest in seeing it become a real product, but like I said, you probably shouldn’t count on seeing them on every corner one day.

[ Corner's Communication ] VIA [ Yanko Design ]

In some parts of the world, booster seats are required by law for kids up to a certain age or height when traveling in a car, but they also come in handy when eating at a restaurant or going to the movies with little ones. But why should the parents have to carry it around when it’s their kids who will be benefiting from it? The creators of the BoostApak clearly asked that exact same question, and came up with their own answer in the form of this transforming backpack/booster seat that can be easily taken anywhere.

It’s got a hard plastic shell for supporting kids aged 4 to 11, and is ergonomically designed to “protect growing spines and encourage better posture” when used. There’s no pricing information yet since the BoostApak isn’t supposed to come out until April of this year, and while it seems to conform to UK safety regulations, hopefully it will be sold in other parts of the world as well.

[ BoostApak ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

An ear-piercing alarm is an effective way to alert most people about a possible fire or emergency, but what about the deaf? Flashing lights can be effective, but only if they’re visible, and the person isn’t sleeping. So a Japanese company called Air Water Safety Service has developed a new type of fire alarm that uses smell instead of sound. More specifically, it uses the chemical compound allyl isothiocyanate, which you’ll find in horseradish and wasabi, in specific quantities so as to wake someone up without giving them a burning sensation in their eyes.

In testing the alarm has been found to be effective in a room roughly about 50 square feet in size, waking someone up with smell alone in about 2 and a half minutes. Not exactly springing out of bed mind you, but it does seem to work. Unfortunately the $560 price tag has meant the units aren’t exactly flying off the shelves, but the company hopes a redesign can bring the price down to a slightly more reasonable, but still kind of expensive, $225.

[ CNET - Wasabi smoke alarm raises a stink in Japan ]

The last few days of January where I live have been particularly brutal, with temperatures falling well below freezing, and wind chill making the prospect of going outside completely unappealing. But the ColdAvenger mask could be the perfect solution for sub-zero temperatures, as it promises to keep your face warm and dry even in the worst of conditions, without the use of electrical heating elements or chemical reactions.

Instead, the ColdAvenger uses a patent-pending ventilation design to mix the cold air you’re inhaling, with the warm, humid air you’re exhaling, to create temperatures inside the mask that are on average 40º to 60ºF higher than outside, depending on your level of physical activity. The mask was developed and researched during the Winter months in the Rocky Mountains, and according to the company’s own testing, has been worn, with comfort, at -20ºF. What I like best though is that the ColdAvenger mask starts at just $49.99, which is cheaper than a nice scarf! Not to mention the fact it makes you look like a baddie from Half-LIfe.

[ Talus ColdAvenger Mask ] VIA [ I New Idea Homepage ]

By Evan Ackerman

Bicycle helmets are a useless inconvenience every single moment of their existence except for that one super important one when they protect you from death (or such less punishment). Part of the problem is their shape, which (while a predefined inevitability) is not an efficient use of space. The Tatoo helmet (that comes from the french ‘tatou’ which means armadillo) is made out of flexible (and recyclable!) interconnected polypropylene that unsnaps from itself and packs flat for storage.

The problem here is that the convenience of having a bendy helmet kinda means that the helmet is, uh, bendy. As in not rigid. And last time I checked, rigidity was a rather important part of the whole “protecting your brain from impacts” thing. Good thing it looks like it’s still a concept at this stage.

[ Abitare ] VIA [ Fast Company ]

Newborns, infants and toddlers aren’t able to trim their own fingernails, because quite simply, they don’t have any teeth! But overly cautious new parents might be reluctant to use a nail clipper for fear of hurting an active or squirming infant. The Buzz B from Zoli, however, is supposed to be a safer alternative to a nail clipper thanks to its oscillating cushioned pads which work like a palm sander, though considerably toned down. The pads will safely grind down a baby’s nails without harming the surrounding skin, and it includes 4 pads of varying textures that can be swapped out as your child grows. $25 available from the Zoli website.

[ Zoli - Buzz B ] VIA [ Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh ]

If cars never stopped moving it would probably be a lot easier for people to get their driver’s license, but that’s not the case, and when you get behind the wheel you’re eventually going to have to park that vehicle. However there is help for those of you not skilled in the art of reverse. The Parking Pilot uses 4 ultrasonic sensors attached to the back of your car to measure the distance between your vehicle and any objects behind it.

An LCD display that attaches to your dashboard provides a somewhat cryptic image of what lies behind your car, but it also includes a measurement in meters in the corner that’s thankfully a bit easier to understand. Now I’m not sure why the kit doesn’t include sensors for the front of your car, when pulling into a parking spot can be just as tricky, but to make up for it the Parking Pilot also includes a breathalyzer function in case you’re as bad at knowing your limit as you are at parking. ~$60 from Chinavasion.

[ Parking Pilot Parking Sensor ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

For a mere $1,150 (or €800.00) you can help celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants’ 10th anniversary, stay safe and look particularly stylish with this limited edition helmet from Les Ateliers Ruby. Only 200 of them have been created, so rest assured you will look extra unique the next time you’re out riding, and with a little pink spraypaint you can give your Vespa a matching ‘Patrick’ paint job completing the ensemble. Available now from colette.

[ colette - Les Ateliers Ruby SpongeBob Helmet ] VIA [ Hypebeast ]